Inside story of Kaduna prison break
Chukwuemeka Ezeagu, a half -baked but charismatic preacher, was young and somewhat articulate. Ezeagu rechristened himself Reverend King. Similarly, among his followers, his words are gospel truths and they all bear “King“ as surname. However, in June 2006, the lid was blown off his charlatanry when King burnt some church members to death, accusing them […]
Chukwuemeka Ezeagu, a half -baked but charismatic preacher, was young and somewhat articulate. Ezeagu rechristened himself Reverend King. Similarly, among his followers, his words are gospel truths and they all bear “King“ as surname. However, in June 2006, the lid was blown off his charlatanry when King burnt some church members to death, accusing them of sundry sins. Extortion, sexual and various abuses, trailed his capital offence and the culprit was sentenced to death. Thereafter, King was hauled into prison but the convict, before going to the gallows, appealed the judgement and got a temporary reprieve.
In prison, King lived like a king, holding court, dispensing favours and receiving visitors. In Kirikiri, the convict determined which warder guarded whom and at what time. Suddenly, the convict became the lord of the manor, posing security threat as he did. Significantly, from Lagos, King was transferred to Kuje Prison but his royal carriage, deep pockets and influence never waned. Thereafter, on January 8, King moved again to Kaduna Central Prison and his regal disposition continued. Within a week, prison staff and prisoners warmed up to him and on January 22, the ranking prisoner showed his hand.
Convicts, on his alleged prompting, went on strike and attempted a jailbreak. The crisis, according to reports, coincided with the judicial workers’ strike and the incident presented a security problem. The prisoners, among other things, wanted improved welfare, speedy trials for awaiting trial suspects and the removal of Comptroller of Kaduna Prisons. The problem, according to a source, threatened peace in Kaduna and Alhaji Habibu Yakubu, the Head of Service, had to pacify the prisoners. Hurriedly, special courts were convened, in spite of workers` strike, to attend to Awaiting Trial suspects. Between January and last week, an uneasy calm pervaded the prison as tension was building; the prisoners became bolder as King allegedly indoctrinated them.
Ironically, the prison authorities, according to a source, did not learn the right lessons from the episode. King, on the other hand, grew in stature and his Christian Praying Assembly, around February, opened a new branch in Kaduna, somewhere around Sabon Tasha. Without let, church members streamed to Kaduna Prison and King’s visitors defied prison rules and regulations. Visitors, according to the rules, are allowed from 10am to 2pm but King’s people came and went at will. Moreso, he received them in his cell and no prison staff hovered around. In addition, his meals were brought from outside and the staff looked the other way while he feasted.
However, in spite of this, King was as popular with staff as he was with inmates because he doled out money, bought drugs, food and other essentials for inmates. As his popularity increased, King became a colossus in prison and defied orders and the inmates took a cue from him. Placards, posters and weapons were found in prison cells and the inmates refused the mandatory and regular search. Security reports reached Abuja and Abdulraham Ashafa, the Prison State Comptroller, was summoned and dressed down.
Ashafa returned to Kaduna and a few heads rolled afterwards. Specifically, Alhaji Rabiu Mohammed, the head of Kaduna Prison, as well as his second-in-command were allegedly suspended. In addition, about 39 inmates were transferred out of Kaduna on April 16 and King was among them and this angered the prisoners. In protest, they went on hunger strike and the armed robbery suspects, a source said, masterminded the agitation. Last Sunday, Ashafa went on a troubleshooting visit but his presence caused more trouble. Booing and heckling, the prisoners hurled strong words at him, shouting “we want Reverend King,” “we don’t want the comptroller,” “Reverend King has impacted on our lives” and other words of protest. The visit and prisoners’ reaction, a security source said, were messy and he blamed Ashafa for the administrative blunder. Specifically, this tripped the wires which exploded into the attempted jailbreak.
Incidentally, the plan had leaked and the authorities took a precautionary measure. The riot, according to sources, was planned for 5am when prisoners are usually taken out for chores. However, last Tuesday, the routine was altered but the prisoners had a plan B. At 6.15 am, the inmates at G Cell broke loose, headed for the workshop, collected crow bars and other tools, unlocked other cells and hell was let loose. Staff members were taken unawares as the prisoners overwhelmed and attacked them. The record office, administrative block and workshop were all razed down. Luckily, before they could escape, recruits from the Prison Training School rushed in and the reinforcement prevented the jailbreak. Guns, as against tear gas, shields and batons as well as helmets, were fired at the rioters and the live ammunitions claimed seven lives. However, official figures put the casualties at two.
Intermittently, for over three hours, gun shots rent the air after the initial rapid fire. Billows of smoke rose to the sky and fire fighting trucks kept bringing water. Vehicles were diverted to Ilorin and Ibrahim Taiwo roads, as Independence Way which passes in front of the prison was cordoned off. By 7am, prison warders, uniformed and plainclothes police men, including relief workers were all over the area. At 10.45am, Comptroller-General Olushola Ogundipe arrived the scene and immediately entered the prison and stayed for over three hours.
Reporters, pushing and shoving, kept vigil and at 11.30 am, their patience paid off when Alhaji Tambari Yabo Muhammad, the Police Commissioner, came out from the premises and fielded a few questions, confirming speculations. King, he revealed, triggered off the riot as inmates protested his transfer to Katsina prison. The convict, he further said, is a serial offender who had caused crisis in Kuje and Kirikiri prisons.
However, an hour later, Ogundipe was not as forthcoming when he addressed the press. Parrying and dodging questions, he refused to locate the immediate cause of the crisis, arguing that investigation will be carried out. On whether or not King is the suspected trigger, Olushola went on: “Reverend King is a condemned criminal. He is one of the inmates that are on death row. I want to say that King is still having his appeal in court.“ But Ogundipe refused disclose King’s whereabouts, evoking hanging questions. Beyond King and the immediate cause, what are the remote causes of the failed jail break, the second in four months?
Congestion, high profile prisoners and a skewed legal system have stretched prison’s facilities and personnel to their limits. The prison’s capacity is 524 and as at last Tuesday, there were 797 inmates and out of this number, 539 are awaiting trial suspects. Upon conviction, a suspect’s offence may just attract six months jail term but in most cases, he may spend two years awaiting trial. Missing case files, frequent adjournments and transfer of prosecutors, according to a source, are responsible for delayed sentences. In addition, many convicts are on the death row and their sentences have neither been commuted nor effected. Similarly, high-profile prisoners have a corrupting influence on prison officials.
As a preacher, King killed his church members for committing sins and as a convict, he allegedly triggered a riot in which fellow prisoners lost their lives. Figuratively, only a few heads may roll after the promised investigation.